US Army in Iraq Occupies 7 Mosques in Ramadi and Turns Them into Barracks

Occuping churches, mosques or other places of worship is well known in history of warfare. Germans during WWII often used chuches for safeheaven from
alied bombers. They used churches as field hospitals or even munition depots.

The only problem I see here is that the muslims are more emotionaly attached to their places of worship than the Westerners and they seriously dislike
that kind of usage of holly places by "western devils".

Occuping churches, mosques or other places of worship is well known in history of warfare. Germans during WWII often used chuches for
safeheaven from alied bombers. They used churches as field hospitals or even munition depots.

So you are saying that since the Nazis did it that makes it OK for us to do it too?

It is clearly a warcrime and I can't understand how anyone could support it.

Originally posted by ArchAngel
So you are saying that since the Nazis did it that makes it OK for us to do it too?
It is clearly a warcrime and I can't understand how anyone could support it.
The only thing it does is enrage the people even more.

Iraq is currently 'occupied', Yes?

International law is applicable, Yes.

Please explain your statement and explain fully how 'these' actions are ever so ‘clearly’ a war crime perp'd by the US, especially
concerning the information as provided by this particular thread.

Article 56. The property of municipalities, that of institutions dedicated to religion, charity and education, the arts and sciences, even when
State property, shall be treated as private property.

All seizure of, destruction or wilful damage done to institutions of this character, historic monuments, works of art and science, is
forbidden, and should be made the subject of legal proceedings.

Sure, and protection is given of course; however there are hostilities present and insurgents are using the locations…..but, even if there are no
hostilities there are exceptions:

Hague IV

Art. 1. Definition of cultural property (fist paragraph)

For the purposes of the present Convention, the term "cultural property" shall cover, irrespective of origin or ownership:

(a) movable or immovable property of great importance to the cultural heritage of every people, such as monuments of architecture, art or history,
whether religious or secular; archaeological sites; groups of buildings which, as a whole, are of historical or artistic interest; works of art;
manuscripts, books and other objects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest; as well as scientific collections and important collections
of books or archives or of reproductions of the property defined above;

Art. 4. section 2

2. The obligations mentioned in paragraph 1 of the present Article may be waived only in cases where military necessity imperatively requires such
a waiver.

And also relevant: IV Geneva Convention.

Art. 53. Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the
State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered
absolutely necessary by military operations.

But as hostilities between belligerents exist during the occupational period……

Hague IV

SECTION II HOSTILITIES
CHAPTER I

Means of Injuring the Enemy, Sieges, and bombardments

Art. 27.
In sieges and bombardments all necessary steps must be taken to spare, as far as possible, buildings dedicated to religion, art, science, or
charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not being used at the
time for military purposes.

Do you see a pattern emerging here?

Once militants use 'protected' structures for operations, it is no longer a protected site, period.

IMO, it's not. I know many police law officers on all levels and even a few regular joes that have permits, and the majority of them carry thier
guns to church (the ones that go). It's just playing it safe.

Originally posted by cjf
Sure, and protection is given of course; however there are hostilities present and insurgents are using the locations…..but, even if there are no
hostilities there are exceptions:

Hague IV

Art. 1. Definition of cultural property (fist paragraph)

For the purposes of the present Convention, the term "cultural property" shall cover, irrespective of origin or ownership:

(a) movable or immovable property of great importance to the cultural heritage of every people, such as monuments of architecture, art or history,
whether religious or secular; archaeological sites; groups of buildings which, as a whole, are of historical or artistic interest; works of art;
manuscripts, books and other objects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest; as well as scientific collections and important collections
of books or archives or of reproductions of the property defined above;

Cultural property is independent of religious sites. Religious sites may also be Cultural property, or not, but they never stop being of religious
nature.

You also failed to show anything other than the definition of Cultural property.

Were you implying that occupiers are allowed to seize it?

Art. 4. section 2

2. The obligations mentioned in paragraph 1 of the present Article may be waived only in cases where military necessity imperatively requires such
a waiver.

There was no imperative to seize these Mosques.

You are assuming that there were attacks against us coming from all of them, yet this is not claimed.

And also relevant: IV Geneva Convention.

Art. 53. Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the
State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered
absolutely necessary by military operations.

The Geneva conventions do not supercede the Hague, and this speaks of destruction, not seizure.

But as hostilities between belligerents exist during the occupational period……

Hague IV

SECTION II HOSTILITIES
CHAPTER I

Means of Injuring the Enemy, Sieges, and bombardments

Art. 27.
In sieges and bombardments all necessary steps must be taken to spare, as far as possible, buildings dedicated to religion, art, science, or
charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not being used at the
time for military purposes.

How does this apply? They have been siezed, not bombarded.

Do you see a pattern emerging here?

Yes, you don't know what your're talking about, but you have been reading my other posts.

Never would you have used these sources if I had not posted them.

Once militants use 'protected' structures for operations, it is no longer a protected site, period.

PLEASE give a sources for this.

I have read every single international treaty, and agreement that America ever signed.

Baghdad. In a one of a kind military operation the US army occupied 7 mosques yesterday in the Western Iraqi town of Ramadi and turned the mosques
into barracks, the Iraqi News Agency INA reported.
According to information, the American soldiers have taken the praying out of the mosques, closed them and banned access to the mosques within a range
of 1 kilometer.

Originally posted by ArchAngel
Were you implying that occupiers are allowed to seize it?

No, I am stating a fact...if it is a military imperative.

Originally posted by ArchAngel
There was no imperative to seize these Mosques.

Prove it.

Originally posted by ArchAngel
You are assuming that there were attacks against us coming from all of them, yet this is not claimed.

You assume too much, not I.

Originally posted by ArchAngel
I have read every single international treaty, and agreement that America ever signed.

I seriously doubt it, but hey...not the first ‘stretch’, eh?

Originally posted by ArchAngel
Yes, you don't know what your're talking about, but you have been reading my other posts.

No it is you that haven’t read mine.... use the ‘find post’ button...you will not be able to repeat your ignorant unsupported statement….

Originally posted by ArchAngel

Once militants use 'protected' structures for operations, it is no longer a protected site, period.

PLEASE give a sources for this.

Here is a start you take it form there…or continue to believe what you believe….it’s really not my problem.

Terrorists used Fallujah mosques as forts, arsenals

"Using mosques as a storage facility for military equipment or weapons or as a fortress to initiate attacks, causes the mosque to lose its
protected status under the Law of War," the document says. "Under international law, the improper use of privileged buildings to include
churches and mosques, is a war crime." (link)

Originally posted by ArchAngel
Never would you have used these sources if I had not posted them.

Not only do you not know what the hell you are talking about….. you are not very good at attempts of personal insults....pathetic.

Your missing the point.
When religious sites are under the control of military forces they lose their protected status. The moment enemy forces have been driven from
the location it goes back to original status as a religious site. Protected status isn't like virginity it can be reattained.

"Using mosques as a storage facility for military equipment or weapons or as a fortress to initiate attacks, causes the mosque to lose its protected
status under the Law of War," the document says. "Under international law, the improper use of privileged buildings to include churches and mosques,
is a war crime."

Is that the best you could find?

An American interpretation instead of a document reference?

The Mosque not all Mosques.

Our improper use would be a warcrime.

The author failed to show what article it violates, and ignored the culpability of the occupational forces.

God I love the double standard. Where was the outrage when the insurgents were attacking Coalition forces from inside the mosques, and they were
doing everything they could to keep from destroying them, or even shooting back at them? Oh right, I forgot, it's ok for the "freedom fighters" to
do anything they have to do as long as they kill Americans, but the Americans have to fight with both hands tied behind their backs, to be fair.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
God I love the double standard. Where was the outrage when the insurgents were attacking Coalition forces from inside the mosques, and they were
doing everything they could to keep from destroying them, or even shooting back at them? Oh right, I forgot, it's ok for the "freedom fighters" to
do anything they have to do as long as they kill Americans, but the Americans have to fight with both hands tied behind their backs, to be fair.

Maybe you are missing the point of the thread.

They have taken control of the Mosques, and ordered others to be shut down.

This is not required to maintain security in an occupation.

It is a bold slap in the face of Islam.

Not one single drop of American blood will be saved by this, but much more may be spilled because of it.

As was pointed out earlier the Nazis did this too, so maybe we should reconsider...

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